WTF Happened to V? (1983)

Welcome back to "Gone But Not Forgotten", a show examining your favorite vintage TV, which, despite no longer being on the airwaves, remain in our hearts!

This week, we're taking a look at Kenneth Johnson's "V", which began life as a landmark TV mini-series, before spawning a sequel, "V: The Last Battle", a short-lived series, and a recent remake that only lasted a single season.

As we reveal here, the original show was an allegory for fascism, with some brilliant "shock" moments that rocked audiences to their core in 1983. How does the show hold up? Really well it turns out - especially as far as the original mini-series goes. Check out why!

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#V #VMiniSeries #GoneButNotForgotten

[jotun]

I'm old enough to remember the original series. It was an absolute must watch back in the day.

[MickeyKnox]

I once met Robert Englund at some kind of Comic Con and everyone had the usual Nightmare on Elm Street memorabilia for him to sign ... I was the only one with a V poster and he was so happy to see (and sign) it, that he took 5 minutes talking to me (and loud enough for everyone else in the line) about every one of the main actors and actresses, what they were doing "now" (that was more than 10 years ago) and so on. He was kind of thankful that someone brought something from V ... it was quite an experience. :-)

[charleyyoho]

I was absolutely floored by this TV show as a kid. It had everything!! Space ships, lasers, aliens and above all it wasn’t corny and the acting was superb

[robbest]

'They live' and 'V' are my two favourite documentaries

[lea-anne]

Robert Englund's character Willie was such a lovely character. Showed how versatile Robert's acting could be. Not just scary nightmare knife man😊

[telengardforever]

When I was a grad student, I was working on a game based on "V". I was in direct communication with Kenneth and he told me the HUGE backstory to "V". Basically, the visitors were at war with an insect race, and the lizards were losing horribly. Not only were their soldiers dying, but resources such as their water and food was depleting. Hence, they came to earth -- for food, water, and human soldiers. You can actually see a hint of this war towards the end of the original "V" in which the human resistance attempts to contact the insect race to inform them the lizards are on earth. In "V The Final Battle", this plot line was abandoned because it was considered too expensive to bring in another major alien race and begin a war on earth. In the original concept by Kenneth, there was no such thing as "the red dust". That was invented by the production company because it was cheaper to film than an all out war with insects on planet earth.

One final note: Remember how in the original "V" series they were giving humans military training and uniforms? Yup, that was to prepare them for war against the insects. It wasn't just their "pet" project. Not all humans were destined as food. Kenneth never did say if the insects would have been human allies. For all we know, it could have been a 3-way war between humans, lizards, and insects -- which I guess kinda freaked out the production company who then opted for "the red dust".

[Art--Deco]

The memories!

V was frightening, amazing, unnerving, and groundbreaking. I will NEVER forget watching it back in 1983 as a 12 year old, fascinated along with my brother. We we GLUED to the TV and it was all the rage to talk about with friends at school the next day. Those damn lizards gave me nightmares!

[theshypersistence]

Mock it if you will, but that alien baby reveal was truly frightening back in the day lol

I was obsessed with the show: from the chilling opening theme to Diana's super villainy. Really formed a big part of growing up in the 80's ✌️🥲

[kittychik]

I was 10 when the original miniseries aired, and was instantly obsessed. My friends and I played V, I wrote what is now called fan fiction about V all throughout my teens, and will still watch the entire saga every few years. In the 80s V was a phenomenon!

[thunderbird]

You haven't lived life unless you saw this when it came out. It was like a movement. So awesome

[kevculmstock]

I was 12 years old when this came out. This show was HUGE at the time. I can still remember some scenes like it was yesterday. Anybody remember the limited tv series Ewoks The Battle for Endor?

[darrellmfume]

ONE of the highest rated mini-series of ALL time. I was 15 when this aired on NBC in the spring of 1983. back at a time/early 80's. when the WHOLE family would watch T.v together. NOT because we wanted to, many families just could only afford ONE T.v set. LOL LOL

[charleslebi]

The series scared the living daylights out of me as a kid. The creators of the series didn't hold back on the body horror at all.

[natnut]

The female brunette villain was the standout of the show. She was perfectly casted and stole every scene she was in.

[merlin]

I LOVED watching this show with my Dad in the 80s. Someone below mentioned that it was like a movement when it aired. People talked about V as if it was really happening.

Miss those feelings.

[mrmeerkat]

That scene where the woman gives birth to a lizard baby freaked me out as a kid.

[drinkxyz]

The original series was fantastic. The theme music with the red V zooming out got it started right. My mom made me a visitor uniform with art supplies for Halloween one year, my all time favorite costume.

[theflickchick]

I didn't exist in the 80s or 90s. I'm still quite young. I legit just watched V because I wanted to watch something with Robert Englund in it that wasn't hardcore horror. And I got hooked right in. It's one of my favourite shows now! I even have Funko Pops and one of the comics. I am constantly trying to convince people my age to watch it too because it's so much fun, so dark, and...so relevant.

[CelineNoyce]

V was an amazing series. Both Kenneth Johnson and Brandon Tartikoff were right to think kids of that generation couldn't believe "why we fight" because at that time it just wasn't something that seemed like it could happen. The idea of having them be aliens really worked. I just wish it was on streaming services so the current generation could learn these lessons.

[imanihodges]

I got to meet Marc Singer, Jane Badler and Robert Englund at a convention in ATL a few years ago. They were all awesome, friendly and engaging!